1. Choosing the Right Photographer

Hiring a professional photographer for your winery is about more than just liking a few pictures on their website. Look for someone with a strong portfolio, a consistent visual style that aligns with your brand, and proven experience in the wine sector. Every winery is unique, and it’s important to work with someone who understands how to tell your story — the landscape, the people, the production, and the final product — in a way that resonates. The photographer will need to be able to adapt to a range of subjects and situations while maintaining a visual consistency. Ideally, look for a portfolio that includes strong landscape, portraits, still-life, reportage and lifestyle images.
 

Price is always a consideration of course, but great photography should be seen as an investment rather than just a cost. Strong, evocative images can be used across your website, social media, press kits and printed materials for years to come. 

2. What to Shoot - potential subjects to photograph at your winery
When it comes to winery photography, think beyond just the bottles. Here are some subjects that can add depth and narrative to your visual story:
 

• The Estate: landscape photographs and drone shots of the vineyards and estate.

• The Harvest: reportage-style images of grape picking, sorting and processing.

• The Cellars: interiors and details of your wine cellars, barrels and those moments that talk of quality control and craftsmanship.

• The Team: professional portraits of the owners,  workers and family members.

• The Product: engaging shots of your product, glasses of wine and bottles on-location around the winery of in particular settings.

• The Experience: wine tasting and shared moments of enjoyment. Interaction between staff and visitors.

• The Details: Close-ups of wine glasses, corks, grapes, tools and land that tell the story of your winery.

• Sustainability & Tradition: If you have a focus on sustainable practices or uphold traditional methods, showcase this visually through the materials, equipment, and processes you use.
   

These subjects can work together to form a compelling narrative that reveals the soul of your winery, beyond just the product itself.

3. Long-term Planning Across the Seasons
Great winery photography doesn’t have to happen all at once. In fact, some of the strongest and most useful images are created over time — capturing the rhythms of the vineyard and life behind the scenes.

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Rather than squeezing everything into a single session, consider working with your photographer on a year-long visual strategy. This not only spreads the cost and workload, but also allows for greater variety and depth in your image bank.

For example, a seasonal approach might decide on a fixed number of shoot days during the year to include:

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February: Formal portraits of staff and management, interior shots of the winery and cellar while activity is quieter.

June Landscape and vineyard photography when the estate is at its most visually rich.

September: The grape harvest harvest in action — workers in the vineyard, the atmosphere, the effort and emotion of the season.

October: Lifestyle and product-focused images — bottles, glasses, and moments of wine being enjoyed, styled in a natural setting such as a restaurant or terrace, possibly with models and a stylist to raise the production value.

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This approach results in a broad and flexible set of images, each crafted for different uses — from storytelling on social media to high-impact visuals for trade fairs, brochures, and editorial requests. Plus, it keeps your brand image fresh throughout the year.

4. Cost Estimates & Packages
When it comes to photography, the cost can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the shoot, the number of images required, and the amount of post-production work needed. For wineries, I typically offer tailored packages to meet your specific needs, whether it's a one-time photoshoot or an ongoing strategy over the course of the year.

 

Typical factors influencing the cost:

• Shoot Duration: Half-day or full-day sessions.

• Number of Locations: For larger estates, multiple locations can be photographed in one shoot, or in a planned series.

• Drone Service: still images or short video clips of the estate captured from a drone.

• Post-Production: The time spent editing and optimizing the images.

• Models & Stylists: If required, these are additional costs.

• Travel Expenses: Depending on the location of your winery.
   

Sample packages could include:

Basic Package: One-day shoot (up to 8 hours), capturing key areas such as the vineyard, cellar, and staff portraits. Includes 30+ edited images.

Extended Package: Multiple-day shoot spread across the year, capturing seasonal aspects, lifestyle shots, product-focused images, and more. Includes 100+ edited images across different platforms.

Custom Package: A flexible option for wineries looking for specific needs (e.g., product photography, special events, book publications). Tailored cost estimate based on your requirements.
 

If you're unsure about what package to choose, I’m happy to discuss your needs and create a custom quote that works for your winery.

6. Making the Most of Your New Photos
A great set of photographs offers a versatile marketing resource that can support your winery across many different platforms and situations. With a well-organised strategy, you can build a professional image bank to draw from over many years. The better your images, of course, the more likely they are to be published, shared and remembered.

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Here are just some of the ways winery photos might be used:

• Website design and updates

• Social media posts and campaigns

• Printed brochures and flyers

• Advertising (online and print)

• Press and magazine requests

• Trade fair presentations and signage

• Wine labels and packaging

• Anniversary books or special publications

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